Means for making box-blanks.



R. G. INWOOD & P. C. LAVENBERG.

MEANS FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED 00127, 1904.

Patented FBI 9, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

illl Witness altovnw R. G. INWOOD & P. G. LAVENBERG. MBANS'FOB MAKING BOX BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27, 1904 1,1 28,145. Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

s sums-sum a.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 27, 1904.

1 EMF 9 e- !IIE:

R. G. INWOOD & P. G. LAVENBERG. MEANS FOR MAKING Box BLANKS M w m aw machine UNITED. STATES ATENT OFFICE RICHARD e. mwoon Ann PERRY c. LAVENBERG, or SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ASSIGN- ORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO WIREIBOUNDS PATENTS COMPANY, OF .KITTERY,

MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MEANS FOR MAKING BOX-BLAH KS.

Application filed October 27, 1904. Serial No, 280,249.-

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that we, RICHARD G. INwoon and PER-RY C LAVENBERG, citizens of the United States. residing at South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means for Making Box: Blanks, of which the following is a specification.

lhis invention relates to themanufacture of wirebound boxes and pertains more par ticularly to combined fastener applying and work-controlling mechanisms for use in manufacturing box blanks, or sections of blanks, formed of side sheet material, separate or individual cleats, and re-inforcing wires arranged to be secured to the side sheet material and individual cleats. I

In a machine embodying this invention, the fastener applying mechanism and the work-controlling means coeperate to produce box blanks or blank sections of'the character suggested with rapidity and ac curacy of relative adjustment of the side sheet material, individual cleats and wires which 'iS extremely desirable,

The invention is hereinafter described for illustration, as embodied in an organized comprising Ifastener applying means, and work-controlling means arranged to present 'tosaid fastener applying means the parts of a blank for a box having side materialnand individual cleats. In

the specific machine about to be described} the fastener applying meehanism and the, work-controlling means cooperate. to drive staples astride of binding wires, through side sheet material and into. the individual,

cleats. the vside --sheetflmaterial andlindividual cleats being presented in'the proper? relations to receive the wire andi'staplcs. M;

Figure 1 is'a perspective view lof theniachine, showing one of the formers in'a po- Fig.

sition to be fed throughthemachine. 2 isa similar viewftaken from therear and fone-side of the-machine.- Fig. 3 is a perspective view of. the machine taken from the side opposite toathat shown in Figs. 1 and j 2. .4 isa fragmentary perspective view; of one type of box blank which-maybe I made u-pon'the illustrative machine In the drawings, 1 designates the frame- Patented Eeb.9, 1915. a

work of the machine and2, a bed-plate or.

table which preferably extends beyond the frameon one side, as at 3, so that the formers or carriages 4 may he slid around from the rear to the operatorin front. Extend-l mg above the bed-plate or. table and form ing part of the frame are standards 5,;5,'.to

which are secured guides 6, in which a cross-head 7slides. This cross-head carries a plurality of staple. formers and drlvers S, which are relatively adjustable in grooved guideways 9 and 10, so thateach staple former and driver may be positioned opposite to each cleat of the blank and drive the machine. formers may be of any suitable construction 'thereof is not, given herein, ,it being plied from suitable reels or from a hopper staples therein as the blank isfedthrough These staple drivers and .sufiicient tosay that the rods orwires from which the staples are formed'are'fedorsupl containing the 'cut staple blanks So fa'ras the present invention is concerned it isfn'ot, I I necessary that thedevicesshall; form the} staples, but, merely that they shall gdrive-f I so staplesflas-desired.

Mounted in the frame journalcd in suitable bearings 12, and havbeneath the -table, is thedriving mechanism for thefeed rollers and the staple formers and drivers, and this preferably consists of a driving shaft 11' ing. on one end a pulley 13 which is'su'pplied' with power. from a belt 14,;and in the hub' of which is mounted a suitable clut'chl machanisni 15, that is operable'to-key the pulley and tome-lease itfrom. the shaft 11. This clutch-operating mechanism is shown more w clearly in- Fig. 3, wherein a shoe expanding manber' 16 I is connected in 'lev'ers- 17 to a rockshaft 18, on one end 0 which is an arm-- 19, having a pivotal cornh'actic m with a 'puslr 95 rod 20. that extends transversely beneath the. e

ings

table and connects with a shippingjlever' 21,- as' shown in "Fig; 2.' On theshaft 11 is a: gear 22 that 'mesheswith the gear 23011 a. j 'countershaft 24, mounted in suitablev bear-" 1.0.0 reject; through the frame, andon itsproJebting ends are eccentrics 26, which are provided with the usual eccentric sleeves 27, into which are fitted pitmen 28 that extend up and above the table. To the upper end of each pitman 28 is pivoted. a sliding block 29 that moves in ways 30, formed on the outside of the standards 5, and these slide blocks 29 are connected 'with or form part of the crosshead 7, which carries the staple formers and drivers, so that the reciprocation of the cross-head is effected through the operation ofthe eccentric on the shaft 24. Also mounted on one end of the shaft 24 and rotatable therewithis a disk 31, on the outer face of which is a grooved radially disposed socket or keeper 32 in which is adjustably mounted a pin 33.- On this pin is a sleeve 34,-and to the sleeve is secured a pitman 35. The upper end of this pitman 35 is pivoted to a swlnging or oscillatory frame 36, connected therewith. The instrumentali gravity pawls or dogs 37. The pin 33 is always adjusted in the keeper 32 so as to be disposed eccentri'cally on the disk 31 and thereby impart a gyratory motion to the sleeve and an oscillating motion to the frame 36, connected therewith. The instrumentalities operating in this manner serve to im-' part a progressive step by step or intermittent feed toa pair of toothed feed'rollers 38, which are mounted beneath the table in front and behind the staple formers and drivers'and are preferably of such-length as to extend entirely across the bed-plate between the standards 5, so that the formers,

which \are laterally adjustable and which form the subject-matter of a co-temporaneouss-application, may be engaged by and fedthrough the machine, as will appear hereinafter. On the shaft of one of these feed rollers is a ratchet-wheel 39, the teeth of which are arranged to .be engaged by the gravity pawls 37 of the frame 36, and as each pawl is of different length, there will always be one or more in intimate contact with one of-the teeth of'the ratchet wheel and thereby prevent any lost motion-in the feed of the material through the machine.

40 designates an arm secured to the frame projecting outwardly therefrom and having on its outerend a plurality of pawls 41, each of different length with their rear ends weighted so as to hold the front ends into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 39 and prevent retrograde movement thereof. The opposite ends of the shafts of the feed rollers are fitted with sprockets 42 that are connected by a sprocket chain 143, whereby both feed rollers will move in unison.

In order to give aninitial or preliminary feed to the toothed rollers 38, so as to bring the boxblank in a convenient position beneath the staple drivers for the insertion'of the first staples Suitable mechanism is pro- "vided for manually adjusting the ratchet wheel 39. This mechanism consists of a lever 44, pivoted to a standard 45 and having a do 46 arranged to be engaged with the teeth 0 the ratchet wheel when the lever is moved upwardly by the operator, and

vary or mo ify sai power-feed or'the steps .thereof for any desired purpose.

On the shaft 24, about the center thereof, is an eccentric 47 the pitman 48 of which is connected with a suitable clencher plate, the

anvils 49 of which project through the openings in the bed-plate, beneath the stapledrivers, andthis eccentric 47 is so arranged as to raise the anvils when the staple is driven, and thereby clench the ends of the latter on the inside of the box blank.

Mounted on a rod 50 at the top of the frame are a plurality of wire reels or spools 51, the wires of which constitute the strengthening or binding wires of the box. These wires are passed around the rollers 52 on the staple formers and drivers and then passed beneath the latter to be straddled by the staples as they are driven into the sheets and cleats. 1

The feed rollers 38 project through transverse openings in the bed-plate just far enough to engage with the rack'bars 53 on the carriage or formers 54, as shown in 1. As the former or carriage is laterally adjustable for boxes of different sizes, and as the feed rollers extend entirely across the bed-plate, therack bars on the sides .of-.

the former are always adapted. for engagement with the feed rollers, so that adjustwhich -is equal to the length of the com-" pleted box. Each of the side-bars 55 is provided on its upper Surface with a'longitudinal groove 55 in which the blocks 56, which.

are preferably step-mitered at their ends to correspond withthe step-mitered ends ofthe cleats, are mounted. A further 1611110171011 of the grooved bar 55 is to receive the cleats, which fit into the j grooves between the groove-walls, and are thus held against lateral "displacement during the stapling operation, springson the bars 55, as described in the applicants co-pending application referred to, projectin laterally into the grooves to engage the c eats to press against them and thereby supplement the bars 55 in holding the cleats against lateral displacement. 7

By the use of our improved former, small pieces of stock may be utilized, inasmuch as each section of the cleat A may be clamped in the side bars of the former and the sheet B may be composed of separate pieces suitabl clamped upon the cleats pre aratory to in secured thereto, and as t e joint of the 0 cats is formed by step mitering this step miter may be formed on the ends of each section before it is positioned in the former.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

A number of formers are made ready by assembling the cleats and sheets therein, and as fast as the parts are secured together by the machine, the completed blank may be removed and' a new set of cleats and sheet sections supplied to the former, which is then slid around the extension 3 of the bedplate to the front of the machine, where it may be again passed through to be operated upon by the staple-drivers, thus allowing the use of a plurality of formers and carriages and the assembling of the box materials and feeding of the carriages to the machine in rapid order. When the first former is ready to be fed into the machine, the lever 44 is raised and by means of the dog 46, the ratchet wheel 39 may be rotated to impart initial feed to the feed rollers 38; thus bringing the former with the blank material, into proper position for receiving the first staple, which position is such as to prevent a staple being driven at a point adjacent to the miter of the cleats. The initial feed having been made, the shipping lever 21 is pulled to rock the shaft 18, and through the medium of the levers 17 and spreader 16, the shoes 15 of the clutch are brought into engagement with the flange on the pulley 13. The pulley is now made fast to the driving shaft 11' and through the gearin 22 and 23, the shaft 24 is continually rotate The eccentrics 26 on the ends of this shaft 24 operate the pitman 28 and reciprocate the cross-head 27 of the staple formers and drivers. At the same time the disk 31 on the end of the shaft-24 is rotated, and it being premised that the pin 33 has been previously adjusted in the keeper 32 to impart the desired throw to the vibrating frame 36, which controls the rotation of the feed rollers 38, the upward movement of the frame 36 will by the engagement of the pawls 37 with the ratchet wheel 39, impart a partial rotation to the latter and to the toothed feed roller mounted on the shaft thereof. Upon the down stroke of the vibrating frame 36, the pawls 37 will slide over the teeth of the ratchet and the latter will be prevented from turning by the engagement of the weighted pawls 41 therewith, and thus retrograde movement prevented.

The parts are so arranged with relation to each other that the staple formers and drivers alternate in their action with the feed mechanism, so that the box blank will be at a stand still, while the staples are being driven, but when the staples are driven, the eccentric 47 which controls the u and down movement of the anvils 49 of t e clencher plate will operate to raise the latter, and when the arts have been secured together, and the binding wires which are sup lied from the reels 51, stapled to the outsi e of the sheet adjacent to the cleat, a blank substantially as shown in Fig. 4, is formed in which A'are the cleats; B the sheet; C the binding wire; and D, the staples. This blank when bent into rectangular shape forms the sides of a box.

The present machine, as illustrated, is provided with three stapling devices 8, at least two of which are laterally adjustable for blanks of different widths. For short boxes only the two outer staplers need operate to drive staples over two binding wires through the edges of the sheet into the cleats, to form blanks of the t pe shown in Fig. 4. For long boxes the b anks may be strengthened with intermediate binding wires fastened only to the sheets by staples clenched at the under sides of the sheets against the anvil 49. The descent of the anvil, between stapling operations, permits the slotted cross-bars 57 of the carriages, or.

formers, to pass without obstruction from the anvil. I

We wish it to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the useof removable carriages or formers suchas de- I scribed, and which are in the nature of adjuncts applicable to the wire-feeding and stitching machine. Any means for positioning the separate parts of the blank-material in proper relation. as broadly defined in the claims, may be substituted for the formers, or carriages. described, whether removable from and replaceable in the machine, or otherwise. In operating the apparatus shown and described, the carriages or formers may be fed into the machine one after the other in a manner to obviate the necessity of stopping the machine after eac blank is stitched. In this way, an endless chain of cleat and sheet holders and positioners, with the material thereon, may be caused to pass between the bed-frame and stapling devices, and keep the machine working to its fullest capacity.

It will be seen that the present invention embodies a machine that can be manufactured with comparatively little expense and at the 'Bambwtime increase its the groductionof boxzblanks. --;T e simplicity of the machine, always a ruling desideratum in the field of manufac- 5 ture, is suchas to enable the same ,tO bk operated :and manipulated by unskilled workmen. -i:As .'Will appear to those skilled in the art, this invention constitutes an important advance in the box-making industry; especially in that it provides or the first time mechanical means for controlling side material and separate individual cleats, prepariatory to applying binding wires thereto, in 5 combination with means for foldably connecting said parts to form finished foldable wire-bound box blanks. The invention is, of course, not limited to the specific construction, organization and mode of operation hereinbefore described for illustration.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Means for making a box blank by stapling together sheet-sections, cleat-secroapacity for 2s tions and binding-wires, comprising in combination with a machine carrying stapledrivers with attendant binding-wire ides, and provided with operating means or the staple drivers, of means for receiving and positioning the cleat-sections of the blank in properly spaced end-to-end relation to each other, comprising cleat holders having spacing stops positioned alon them correspondingly with the lengths of the respective sheet sections, and means engaging and moving the clean-holders with the inserted cleats across the staple drivers and wire ides.

2. Means for making a box bank by stapling togther sheet-sections, cleat-sections and binding-wires, comprising in combination with a machine carrying stapledrivers with attendant binding-wire guides and provided with operatin means for the staple drivers, of means or holding the sheet-sections and for receiving and positioning the cleat-sections in properly spaced end-to-end relation to each other, comprising sheet-section and cleat-section holders, having spacing stops for the cleat-sections positioned along them correspondingly with the lengths of the respective sheet-sections, and means engaging and moving the cleat holders with the inserted cleat-sections and the sheet sections across the staple drivers and wire guides.

3. A. machine for making metal-bound box-blanks, comprising means for guiding the metallic binding onto the blank, suitable means for inserting fastening devices into the blank to secure the metallic binding thereto, and to secure cleats to the inner surface of the blank, a power operated feeding device, and a portable Work-holder adapted to carry the blank through the machine,

said work-holder being adapted to be concleats to the said binding, in unison with the MOMMA meted with saidieeding de ice and, wh

so connected, constituting a traveling guide for insuring a straight'course of travel for the blank, and also constituting a medium through which a proper feedin movement is communicated through the c cats to the saidrbinding, in unison with the motion of the blank, said machine also comprising means for supporting the work-holder in position for movement in a strai ht line, and the parallel side ortions of said workholder bein provide with means for holding the saifi cleats end to end, in parallel and fixed relation thereto, and for preventing the binding from causing endwise disso placement of the cleats thereon.

4. A machine for making metal-bound box-blanks, comprising means for guiding or directing e-metallic binding onto the blank, means or driving staples into the 5 blank to secure the said binding thereto, and to secure cleats to the inner surface of the blank, a power operated feeding device, and a plurality of interchan eable work-holders adapted to be loaded wit the material from which the blanks are formed and then passed successively through the said machine, each work-holder being adapted to be connected with said feeding device and, whenso connected, constituting a travelingguide for insuring a straight course of travel for the blank, and also constituting a medium through which the said feeding device commun'icates motion through the motion of the blank, said machine also comprising means for supporting the workholders in position for movement in a straight line, and the side ortions of each Work-holder being provide with means for holding the said cleats end to end, in par allel and fixed relation thereto, and for preventing the binding from causing endwise displacement of the cleats thereon.

5. A machine for making metal-bound box-blanks,'comprising means for directing the metal binding to the surface of the blank, means for inserting fastening devices to secure the metallic binding to the blank, and to secure cleats to the inner surface of the blank, a ower operated feeding device, and a work-holder adapted to support the work, the said work-holder having parallel portions adapted to receive the cleats of the blank and provided with racks adapted to engage said feeding device, the said Workholder when connected with said feeding device, constituting a traveling guide for insuring a straight course of travel for the blank, and also constituting a medium through which motion is communicated through the cleats to the said binding, in unison ,with the motion of the blank, said machine also comprising means for supporting the work-holder in position for'move- 1&0

ment in a straight line, and the side portions of said work-holder being provided with means for holding the said cleats in parallel and fixed relation thereto, and for preventing endwise displacement of the cleats thereon.

(S. A machine for making metal-bound box-blanks, comprising means for directing the metal binding to the surface o the blank, means for inserting fastening devices to secure the metallic binding to the blank, and to secure cleats to the inner surface of the blank, a power operated feeding device, and a longitudinally traveling Work-holder adapted to support the work, said workholder having parallel side portions adapted to receive and hold the parallel cleats of the blank, and adapted to serve as traveling guides to keep the motion of the cleats direct, the side portions of said work-holder having power transmitting connection with the said feeding device, and the said work-holder, when operated by said feeding device, constituting a connection by which motion is communicated through the cleats to the said metallic binding, said machine also comprising means for supporting the work-holder in position for movement in a straight line, and the side portions of said Work-holder being provided with means for holding the said cleats in parallel and fixed relation thereto, and for preventing endwise displacement of the cleats thereon.

7. A machine for making metal-bound box-blanks, comprising means for directing the metal binding to the surface of the blank, means for inserting fastening devices to secure the metallic binding to the outer surface of the blank, and to secure cleats to the inner surface of the blank, a traveling work-holder having parallel side portions adapted to hold the cleats end to end, and provided with means for engaging the ends of the cleats, each side portion having springs for holding the cleats in place, and power transmitting connection for operating said work-holder, the side portions of the work-holder constituting sliding guides for keeping the endwise motion of the cleats direct, and also constituting connections by which power or motion is communicated by the machine through the cleats to the said binding.

8. A machine for making wire-bound boxblanks, comprising reels on which the binding-wires are carried, means for inserting fastening devices. to secure the wires to the outer surface of the blank and to secure cleats to the inner surface thereof, and means including a portable frame-like workholder for pulling the wires off from the reels, and for communicating a step-by-step motion to the said cleats and wires and other portions of. the blank, said work-holder bebox-blanks, comprising reels in which the metallic binding is carried, means for inserting fastening devices to secure cleats to the under side of the blank, and to fasten the binding to the upper surface of the blank, and means including parallel horizontally and longitudinally traveling mem bers for imparting a step-by-step endwise motion to the said cleats and wires in unison with the balance of the blank, said traveling members being adapted to support and move and guide the cleats and prevent the drag or back-pull of the metal binding from causing endwise displacement of the cleats thereon.

10. A machine for forming box-blanks by fastening sheets and strengthening wires to reinforcing cleats, comprising guides for the cleats, said guides comprising parallel longitudinally traveling members adapted to move in unison, engage and hold the cleats to straight lines of travel, and prevent the drag or back-pull of the metal binding from causing endwise displacement of the cleats thereon, intermittent feed mechanism for advancing the cleats longitudinally with their guides and with sheet material through the machine, an intermittingly actuated staple driver adjacent to each path for the cleats, alternating in its action with said feed mechanism to fasten the sheet material and wires, by successive operations, to the cleats, and means for guiding the strengthening wires between the sheet material and the staple drivers.

11. A machine for forming box-blanks by fastening sheets and strengthening wires to reinforcing cleats, comprising guides for the strengthening wires, guides for the cleats, said cleat-guides comprising parallel traveling members adapted to engage and hold the cleats to straight lines of travel, and prevent the drag or back-pull of the metal binding from causing endwise displacement of the cleats thereon, intermittent feed mechanism for advancing the cleats longitudinally with their guides and with sheet material through the machine, an intermittingly actuated staple driver and a guide for a strengthening wire adjacent to each path for the cleats, the staple drivers alternating in this action with the said feed mechanism to fasten the strengthening wires and sheet material, by successive operations, to the cleats at intervals in the direction longitudinallyof the cleats.

12. A machine for forming box-blanks by fastening sheets and strengthening wires to reinforcing cleats, comprising intermittingly actuated staple drivers, guides for the strengthening wires, guides for the cleats, said cleat-guides comprising parallel rigidly connected longitudinally traveling members adapted to engage and hold the cleats to straight lines of travel, and reven't the drag 10 or back-pull of the metal binding from causing endwise displacement of the cleats thereon, guides for the strengthening wires, and intermittingly actuated feed devices for advancing the sheet material and strengthening Wires and cleats with the guides longitudinally below the said staple drivers, the said feed devices alternating in their action with the said staple drivers.

13. A machine for forming box-blanks by fastening sheets and strengthening wires to reinforcing cleats, comprising guides for the strengthening wires, guides for the cleats, said cleat-guides comprising parallel traveling members adapted to engage and hold the cleats to straight lines of travel, and revent the drag or back-pull of the metal inding from causing endwise displacement of the cleats thereon, intermittent feed mechanism for advancing the cleats and their guides longitudinally with sheet material through the machine, a series of intermittingly actuated staple forming and driving mechanisms, alternating in their action with the said feed mechanism, disposed above the path of the sheet material and cleats and in a horizontal line at right angles to said path, and means for guiding strengthening wires below the staple drivers, whereb the strengthening wires and sheet material, by successive operations of the staple drivers, are fastened to the cleats at intervals in the direction longitudinally of the cleats.

14. A machine for making metal-bound box-blanks, comprising means for directing the metal binding to the surface of the blank, means for inserting fastening devices to secure the metallic binding to the upper surface of the blank, and to secure cleats to the under side of the blank, together with means including a traveling work-holder for imparting a step-by-step motion to the said binding in unison with the motion of the blank, and in a direction endwise of said cleats, said work-holder being adapted to hold the cleats end to end, and being provided with projections extending between and engaging the ends of the cleats.

15. Means formaking box-blanks, including a portable carriage constituting an adjunct applicable to a blank-stitching machine, together with guides for directing binding wires onto the blank, said carriage being provided with parallel cleat-supporting and guiding members for spacing the 65 cleats with relation to each other and with means for holding the cleats against endwise displacement while subject to the drag or back-pull of the wires.

16. Means for making box-blanks, comprising in combination a machine provided with staple drivers, operating means therefor, a frame-like carriage constituting an adjunct applicable to the machine and insertible into and removable therefrom, the carriage constituting means for positioning and holding assembled blank material in proper relation for a box-blank, and for guiding 'the same, feed mechanism in the machine for engaging and moving the inserted carriage below the staple drivers, and means for guiding binding wires onto the blank, said carriage being provided with means for holding the cleats against endwise displacement while subject to the drag or back-pull of the wires.

17. A machine for making wire-bound box-blanks having reinforcing cleats, comprising guides for directing the binding wires onto the blank, stapling devices for inserting staples to fasten the binding wires and cleats to the blank material, feed mechanism for advancing the blank materials stepby-step, guides for the cleats adapted to hold the cleats end to end in a plurality of parallel rows, and blocks interposed between the ends of the cleats in each row, said blocks adapted to keep the ends of the cleats properly separated while the materials are being advanced by the feed mechanism.

18. A machine for making wire-bound box-blanks having reinforcing cleats, comprising guides for directing the binding wires onto the blank, stapling devices for inserting staples to fasten the binding wires and cleats to the blank material, feed mechanism for advancing the blank materials step by step, guides adapted to hold the cleats end to end in a plurality of parallel rows, and miter blocks in said guides and interposed between the ends of the cleats in each row, each block being adapted to engage the mitered ends of the cleats.

19. In a machine for the purpose specified, the combination of means for guiding the binding wires onto the blank, guides for the cleats of the blank, power operated feed mechanism for advancing the blank, means for stapling the binding wires and the other parts of the blank together, and means on said cleat-guides for preventing the drag or back-pull of the binding wires from causing displacement of the blank relatively to the guides, and for keeping the cleats properly positioned end to end but slightly separated,

while the blank is advancing through the machine.

20. A machine for making metal-bound box-blanks, comprising means for guiding the binding-wires on to the blank, suitable means for inserting fastening devices into the blank to secure the metallic binding thereto, a power operated feeding device, and work-controlling means adapted to carry the blank through the machine, said work-controlling means being adapted to be connected with said feeding device and when so connected to serve as a medium through which the said metallic binding is given a proper feeding movement.

21. A machine for making metal-bound and cleat-reinforced box-blanks, comprising means for guiding the binding-wires onto the blank, suitable means for inserting fastening devices into the blank to secure the metallic binding thereto, a power operated feeding device, and a portable work-holder adapted to carry the blank through the machine, said work-holder being adapted to be connected with said feeding device and when so connected to serve as a medium through which the said metallic binding is given a proper feeding movement, the said machine also comprises a movable clenchblock or anvil, and means for moving said clench-block or anvil into and out of engagement with the under side of the blank to clench the staples that secure the middle or intermediate binding-wire to the blank, said clench-block or anvil being arranged in the path of portions of the said work-holding means, but adapted and timed to move out of the way and permit the same to pass.

22. The combination, in a machine for making wire-bound and cleat-reinforced box-blanks, of a plurality of parallel and longitudinally traveling members, means on said members for holding the cleats against lateral displacement therefrom, means on said members for separating and holding the cleats against endwise displacement thereon, operative mechanism for producing a simultaneous actuation of said members, in the same direction, means for supplying binding wires, and means for securing said wires to the cleats, whereby said members sustain the drag or pull of said wire.

.23. A machine for making box blanks by wiring together the previously unconnected side sections of each blank, with separate sheets and cleats for each section, comprising means for maintaining the cleats in parallel rows, devices for producing successive spaces between the ends of the cleats in each row, and mechanism for wiring the previously unconnected sections of the blank together while the cleats thereof are held in spaced relation by said devices.

2-1. A machine for making box blanks by wiring together the previously unconnected side sections of each blank, with separate sheets and cleats for each section, comprising means for maintaining the cleats in parallel rows, devices for producing successive spaces between the ends of the cleats in each row, mechanism for wiring the previously unconnected sections of the blank together while the cleats thereof are held in spaced relation by said devices, and mstrumentalities for causing said devices and blank materials to have a step by step feeding motion, said mechanism thereby fastening said materials together by successive operations on each blank.

25. A machine for making box blanks comprising work controlling means having cleat positioning means to receive sectional cleats in parallel lines, and spacing means to space cleats endwise from each other in each line, preparatory to connecting said cleats in their spaced relation, said work controlling means being arranged to receive side material to be secured to said cleats; fastener applying means for securing binding means to the side material and cleats controlled by the work controlling means; means for relatively feeding the work controllin means and fastener applying mechanism or securing said binding means across the intervals between said spaced cleats to secure them together in their spaced relations to form a folda'ble blank.

26. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning means to receive a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end; means relatively to position the adjacent ends of said cleats in cooperative foldable relationship; and mechanism for securing side material to the cleats and foldably connecting the cleats in said relationship.

27. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positionin'g means to receive a plurality of rows of cleats disposed substantially and to end in the respective rows; means relatively to position the adjacent ends of the cleats in each row in cooperative foldable relationship and to aline transversely thereof the cleats in the respective rows; and mechanism for connecting the rows of cleats by side material and foldably connecting adjacent cleat ends in said relationship.

28. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positionmg means to receive a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end; side material positioning means; means relatively to position the adjacent ends of said cleats in cooperative foldable relationship; and mechanism to connect by wire the said adjacent cleat ends in said relationship;

29. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning means to receive a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end; means relatively to position the adjacent end of said cleats in cooperative foldable relationship; mechanism for fold-ably connecting said adjacent cleat ends in said relationship; a'nd power-operated means for relatively feeding the cleats and said mechanism.

30. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning means to receive a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end; means relatively to position the adjacent ends of said cleats in cooperative foldable relationship; mechanism for foldably, connecting said adjacent cleat ends in said relationship; power-operated means for relatively feeding the cleats and said mechanism; and auxiliary manually operated means for relatively feeding the cleats and said mechanism.

31. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, work-controlling means to receive a plurality of pairs of cleats, each pair arranged side by side and the respective pairs being disposed substantially end to end, said means being constructed and arranged relatively to position the adjacent pairs of cleats in cooperative foldable relationship; and mechanism for securing side material to said pairs of cleats and foldably connecting said pairs in said relationship.

32. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning means to receive a succession of cleats; means to provide successive spaces between the adjacent cleat-ends to position said ends in cooperative foldable relationship; and

means foldably to connect said adjacent cleat endsin succession in said relationship. 33. A machlne for making box blanks ,comprising, in combination, cleat-positionmg means to receive a successionof cleats; means to provide successive spaces between the adjacent cleat-ends to position said ends in cooperative foldable relationship; and means for applying wire to said adjacent cleat-ends in succession for foldably connecting them in said relationship.

34. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, work-controlling means to receive a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end with adjacent ends in cooperative foldable relationship; means foldably to connect said adjacent cleat ends; and means to position adj acent cleat ends in said cooperative foldable relationship preparatory to said connecting operation.

35. A. machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, a pair of cleatpositioning means side by side and each for a succession of cleats disposed substantially end to end; a series of cleat spacing devices for each said positioning means, including one for an end cleat of a blank and one cor-v responding to each cleat interval, to position the end cleats of a blank and to position the adjacent cleat ends in cooperative foldable relationship, the spacing devices of one series being respectively alined, transversely of said cleats, with corresponding devices of the other series, to position cleats in transverely alined pairs for individualside sections of the box; and means to secure substantially continuous lengths of wire from end to end of the blank, and across the cleat intervals.

36. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, work-controlling means for positioning a plurality of box sections in cooperative foldable relationship; and mechanism for foldably connecting said sections.

37. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning apparatus for a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end, constructed and arranged relatively to position adjacent cleat ends in cooperative foldable rela tionship; and meansto secure side material to said adjacent cleat ends and foldablyconnect the same in said relationship.

38. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, controlling means constructed and arranged to position a plurality of box sections in cooperative foldable relationship; and means for securing lengths of wire to said sections for flexibly connecting the same in the form of a foldable' blank.

39. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning apparatus for a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end, constructed and arranged relatively to position adjacent cleat ends in cooperative foldable relationship; fastener-applying means for securing side material to said cleats and flexibly connecting said adjacent cleat ends; and means for relatively feeding the cleats and fastener-applying means 40. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, work-controlling means constructed and arranged to position a plurality of box sections in cooperative foldable relationship; and means for flexibly connecting the adjacent box sections at a plurality of points along their adjacent edges, said last named means being adjustable to vary the distance between said points of connection.

41. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning apparatus to receive cleats disposed substantially end to end in a plurality of rows, and constructed and arranged relatively to position adjacent cleat ends in cooperative foldable relationship; means to adjust the distance between the rows of cleats; and fastener-applying means, adjustable to suit the adjustment of the cleat rows, flexibly to connect the adjacent cleat ends.

42. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning apparatus to receive cleats disposed substantially end to end in a plurality of rows and constructed and arranged relatively to position adjacent cleat ends in cooperative foldable relationship; means to adjust the distance between the rows of cleats; and fas-' tener-applying means, adjustable to suit the adjustment of the cleat rows, for securing wires along the respective rows of cleats and flexibly connecting the adjacent cleat ends.

43. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, work-controlling means for positioning a plurality of box sections, said means being relatively constructed and arranged to position their respective sections in cooperative foldable relationship; and means for flexibly connecting the adjacent box sections, said means being adjustable for so connecting said sections at any one of a plurality of points along their adjacent edges.

44. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat positioning apparatus for a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end, constructed and arranged relatively to position adjacent cleat ends in cooperative foldable relationship; and means for securing binding Wire progressivelyl along said cleats and to connect the adjacent cleat ends in said relationshi 4 5. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning means to receive a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end; means for connecting adjacent ends of said cleats; means tg') maintain a cooperative foldable relationship between the adjacent cleat ends while they are being connected; and means for relatively feeding the cleats and said connecting means.

46. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, work-controlling means constructed and arranged to position a plurality of box sections in 00- operative foldable relationship; fastener-applying mechanism for connecting the adjacent box sections; and means for relatively positioning one of said box sections and said fastener-applying mechanism for applying a fastener in the desired relation to an edge of said section.

47. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning apparatus to receive cleats disposed substantially end to end and constructed and arranged relatively to position adjacent cleat ends in cooperative foldable relationship; fastener-applying means foldably to connect the adjacent cleat ends; and means relatively to position one of said cleats and the fastener-applying means to apply a fastener in desired relation to the end of a cleat.

48. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning apparatus to receive a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end, constructed and arranged relatively to position adjacent cleat ends in cooperative foldable relationship; fastener-applying means fcldably to connect the adjacent cleat ends; feeding means for relatively feeding said cleats and the fastener-applying means; and means operatively connected with said feeding means for relatively positioning one of said cleats and the fastener-applying means to apply a fastener in desired relation to an end of said cleat.

49. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning apparatus to receive a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end, constructed and arranged relatively to position adjacent cleat ends in cooperative foldable relationship; fastener-applying means foldably to connect the adjacent cleat ends; a power operated feeding means relatively to feed the cleats and fastener-applying means; and means relatively to feed the same independently of said power-operation of said feeding means.

50. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning apparatus to receive a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end, constructed and arranged relatively to position adjacent cleat-ends in cooperative foldable relationship; fastener-applying means foldably to connect the adjacent cleat ends; feeding means for relatively feeding the cleats and fastener-applying means through feed steps of predetermined length; and means having operative connection with said feeding mechanism for determining the positions of the fasteners in desired relation to the ends of the cleats.

51. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning apparatus to receive a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end, constructed and arranged relatively to position adjacent cleat ends in cooperative foldable relationship; fastener-applying means foldably to connect the adjacent cleat ends; feeding means for relatively feeding the cleats and fastener-applying means step-bystep, the same being adjustable to .vary the lengths of feeding steps; and means for determining the position of a fastener relatively to one of the cleat ends.

52. A machine .for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning means to receive cleats disposed substam tially end to end, constructed and arranged relatively to position adjacent cleat ends in cooperatii'e foldable relationship; fastenerapplying means foldably to connect the adjacent cleat ends; means for feeding the cleats past the fastener-applying means; and means to support the cleat-positioning apparatus'tdpermit it to return to its start ing point.

53. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning means to receive cleats disposed substantially end to end, constructed and arranged relatively to position adjacent cleat ends in cooperative foldable relationship; fastenerapplying means foldably to connect the adjacent cleat ends; and means to support the cleat-positioning means for a cycle of movement past the fastener-applying means and then reversely to its starting point.

54. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, mechanism for attaching binding wire; means to present progressively to said mechanism .a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end, for securing wire along and connecting said plurality of cleats; and means to provide a cooperative foldable relationship of the adjacent ends of said cleats so to be connected.

55. A machine for making box blanks comprising a plurality of groups of workcontrolling means, each group for a separate individual side section of the box, and comprising means to support cleats and side material in cooperative relationship for being secured together to form a box, side, and each group having means to support its cleats and side material in a relationship to enable the same to be folded cooperatively with corresponding portions of a side section controlled by another group; and means to secure Wire binding to the respective side sections and to provide wire for connecting one section and another in foldable relationshi 56. machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-feeding means to feed a succession of cleats disposed substantially end to end; means to provide successive spaces between the ends of said cleats pre aratory to securing together side material, inding wires and said cleats; and fastener applying means for securing binding means to said succession of cleats; said several means being so constructed and arranged that when the binding means is initially secured to an advance cleat in said succession, the. cleat-feeding means thereafter feeds the cleats, and therethrough the binding means progressively past the fastenerapplying means.

57. A machine for making box blanks comprising ':work-positioning means to receive a plurality of rows of cleats disposed substantially end to end for a box blank; means for maintaining spaces between the successive adjacent ends of the cleats in each row and to maintain said inter-cleat spaces alined transversely of the rows; fastenerapplying means for securing binding wire to side material and the two rows of cleats so spaced; and'means relatively to feed said rows of cleats and the fastener-applying means to secure continuous binding wire progressively from the advance ends of the initial cleats of the rows to the rear ends of the final cleats of the rows and across said inter-cleat intervals.

58. A machine for making box blanks comprising work-positioning means to receive a succession of cleats; fastener-applying means for securing binding means to said cleats; means for feeding said cleats relatively past the fastener-applying means; means to predetermine successive spaces be- -t\vcen the ends of cleats for a box blank,

over which spaces the binding means is secured; and means for producing lengths of unattached wire beyond the ends of rear cleats for a blank preparatory to securing binding means to the next following blank.

5!). A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning means to receive cleats disposed substantially end to end, constructed and arranged relatively to position adjacentcleat ends in cooperative foldable relationship; fastener-applying means foldably to connect the adjacent cleat ends; feeding mechanism for feeding the cleats relatively to the fastener-applying means; and means for varying the normal feed by said feeding mechanism.

60. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning means to receive cleats disposed substantially end to end, constructed and arranged relatively to position adjacent cleat ends in cooperative foldable relationship; fastener-applying means foldably to connect the adjacent cleat-ends; feeding mechanism to feed the cleats step by step relatively to the fastener-applying means; and means for varying the 'step feed by said feeding mechanism.

61. A machine for comprising, in combination, Work-controlling means to receive a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end and pertaining to non-adjacent sides of the intended box, constructed and arranged to space said cleats apart endwise a predetermined distance appropriate to intended dimensions of the box side between said non-adjacent sides, to permit said cleats to be foldably connected and folded into substantially parallel relationship; and means for foldably connecting the cleats so spaced.

62. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, work-controlling means to receive a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end and pertaining to intended oppositely disposed sides of the box, constructed and arranged to space said cleats apart endwise a predetermined distance permittin the cleats to be foldably connected and olded into oppomaking box blanks sitely disposed relationshi and means for foldably connectin the c eats so spaced.

63. A machine or making box blanks comprising, in combination, work-controlling means to receive a plurality of pairs of cleats disposed substantially end to end and pertaining to non-adjacent sides of the intended box, constructed and arranged to space said pairs apart endwise a predetermined distance appropriate to dimensions of an intended intervening side of the box; and means to secure side material to and foldably connect said pairs of cleats.

64. A machine for making box blanks from box parts including side material foldable along substantially parallel corner lines to provide box sides, and box members to be secured in pairs to said side material between and disposed transversely of corner lines thereof and near the extremities of said corner lines,comprising, in combination, positioning means to receive said members in pairs disposed substantially end to end, constructed and arranged to space one said pair from another a predetermined distance, permitting said pairs to be foldably connected and folded into a predetermined relation in forming a box: and means foldably to connect said members so spaced.

65. A machine for making box blanks comprising, in combination, cleat-positioning apparatus for a plurality of cleats disposed substantially end to end, constructed and arranged to space said cleats apart endwise a predetermined distance to permit them to be foldably connected and folded into a predetermined relationship in forming a box; and means foldably to connect the cleats so spaced. 7

66. A machine for making box blanks from box parts including side material foldable alon substantially parallel corner lines to provi e box sides, and box members to be secured to said side material between and disposed transversely of corner lines thereof and near the extremities of said corner lines,comprising, in combination, positioning means to receive said members disposed substantially end to end, constructed and arranged to space one said member for one box side from another for a non-adjacent box side a predetermined distance, permittin said pans to be foldably connected and f0 ded into a predetermined non-adjacent relation in forming a box; and means foldably to connect said members.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RICHARD G. INWOOD. PERRY C. LAVENBERG.

Witnesses:

GEORGE OLTSOH, GRACE M. Conn. 

